Mily Balakirev - Piano Works Vol. 3 (Nicholas Walker)

Information

Composer: Mily Balakirev

1. Mazurka No. 1 in A flat major
2. Mazurka No. 2 in C sharp minor
3. Piano Sonatina in G major, 'Esquisses': I. Allegro moderato
4. Piano Sonatina in G major, 'Esquisses': II. L'Istesso tempo
5. Piano Sonatina in G major, 'Esquisses': III. Coda: Poco a poco più agitato
6. Berceuse in D flat major
7. Mazurka No. 3 in B minor
8. Mazurka No. 4 in G flat major
9. Dumka in E flat minor, 'Complainte'
10. Mazurka No. 5 in C sharp major (1884 version, completed by N. Walker)
11. Rêverie in F major
12. Humoresque in D major
13. Mazurka No. 6 in A flat major
14. Piece in F sharp minor (1851, 2nd version, completed by N. Walker)
15. Mazurka No. 7 in E flat minor
16. Capriccio in D major

Nicholas Walker, piano

Date: 2016

Label: Grand Piano

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Review

Though the leader of ‘The Mighty Handful’—a group of Russians including Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Mussorgsky—Mily Balakirev is now practically forgotten. He was his worst enemy, for having composed a sizeable portfolio of works, he then failed to get them published, and often just carried them around in his memory. His solo piano works were much influenced by Chopin, and on this third disc of his complete works for keyboard we have a group of seven Mazurkas written through much of his life. The lazy dance rhythms are so tuneful and skilfully crafted, the Third being a particularly gorgeous creation, while the Fifth has the feel of an aristocratic ballroom scene. His last work in the genre was to be his short three-movement Sonatina that remained unpublished on his death in 1910. Borodin would surely have been pleased to give his name to it, but—and here comes the rub—the work dated from 1910 when the style of composition was already part of antiquity. The beauty of the Dumka for 1900 and the Berceuse from the following year are forgotten cameos, while the dreamy Reverie and the playfulness of the finger-knotting Humoresque, lead to the Capriccio, the discs most extended and challenging work. This was an example of his unwritten music, the content remaining in his memory from his teenage years until it became reality in 1902. Throughout the disc, you are conscious of the affinity and affection for this music from Nicholas Walker, one of Balakirev’s foremost champions. Though much appears unchallenging, it is a feel that is misleading, as it falls beyond the range of amateur pianists, with the Capriccio a virtuoso showpiece. As with the previous releases, I most strongly commend the disc to you.

-- David Denton

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Mily Balakirev (21 December 1836 – 16 May 1910) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor. He was leader of the Russian nationalist group of composers now known as The Five (or The Mighty Handful), including him, Alexander Borodin, César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It has been said that it was Balakirev, even more than Glinka, who set the course for Russian orchestral music and lyrical song during the second half of the 19th century. His most famous works include the brilliant piano fantasy Islamey, Overture on Russian Themes, Symphony No. 1, and the symphonic poem Tamara.

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Nicholas Walker studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Moscow Conservatoire. He has performed with major British orchestras, given recitals worldwide, and recorded for the BBC, BMG Arte Nova, ASV, Chandos and Danacord labels. He is also sought after as an imaginative and sensitive accompanist. Although his Beethoven performances have brought him special critical acclaim, Walker is best known for championing the neglected leader of 'The Mighty Handful', Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev. In 2010 he organised the Balakirev Centenary concerts in London. He teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.

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